In an unknown underground cave somewhere.
Uchiha Madara sat on a stone seat with his back to the cave entrance, his entire body giving off a suffocating pressure.
"Lord Madara." Black Zetsu appeared without a sound. "The matter in the Land of Waves has already ended."
Uchiha Madara's tone was calm and rippleless. "Speak."
"Uchiha Toru successfully awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Madara slowly turned around. The Sharingan in his left eye slowly rotated, the three tomoe emitting a crimson glow in the darkness.
"Tell me the details."
Black Zetsu repeated everything that had happened in the villa exactly as it was.
"Nohara Shinnosuke's self-healing ability is extremely powerful. A fatal wound where an ice blade pierced through his chest healed completely in just a few seconds," Black Zetsu said. "He has also mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique and sealing techniques. His chakra volume is enormous, and his control is far beyond others his age."
After listening, Madara not only did not get angry, but actually laughed.
Back then, Senju Hashirama had also possessed such terrifying recovery ability.
"Interesting. Truly interesting."
He had long since controlled the Mizukage through the Sharingan, and the entire Kirigakure Village was under his control.
This time, Kirigakure's invasion of the Land of Waves appeared on the surface to be for seizing the Land of Waves' sea routes and plundering resources. In reality, it was merely a cover he had thrown out.
Madara's true target had never been the Land of Waves.
It was Konoha's two brats: Nohara Shinnosuke and Uchiha Toru.
"Uchiha Toru is a genius rarely seen in the Uchiha clan in a hundred years," Madara continued. "That is why I needed an opportunity. An opportunity that would let him feel pain deep in his bones and make him hate everything."
Madara laughed softly. "Unfortunately, that opportunity was somewhat disobedient. It actually didn't die."
"Do you need us to arrange another setup, Lord Madara?"
"No need." Madara refused. "Uchiha Toru's despair is a seed that must be carefully cultivated."
His three tomoe slowly turned in his eye.
"When his faith completely collapses, when his soul is completely swallowed by despair, when he no longer has any attachment to this world—that will be the moment he becomes the most suitable vessel to carry my will."
The Eye of the Moon Plan needed a perfect puppet.
And Uchiha Toru was the best candidate he had chosen after countless selections.
...
Kirigakure submitted an official note to Konoha.
The general meaning was that Kirigakure and Konoha were not in a state of war, and Konoha's detainment of Kirigakure ninja in the Land of Waves constituted unjustified imprisonment. Kirigakure demanded the immediate release of all captured personnel, or else they would view this act as a provocation against Kirigakure's sovereignty.
"They really know how to talk." Kakashi's tone carried a trace of mockery. "Their ninja were clearly the ones who crossed the border and caused trouble, but now they're turning it around and making it sound like we're the bullies."
"Then what does Konoha say?" Uchiha Toru's eyes had already returned to normal.
"The village is still discussing it. Let the adults worry about political matters."
Of course, for the time being, all of this had nothing to do with Shin-chan.
Early the next morning, Konoha's support team arrived.
A ninja from the Yamanaka clan wearing a Konoha vest appeared at the camp entrance.
When Uchiha Toru dragged Shin-chan out of his sleeping bag, the sun had only just begun to rise over the sea's horizon.
"Why so early..." Shin-chan rubbed his eyes. "I don't even have morning class."
"A ninja from the Yamanaka clan brought intelligence."
"Yamanaka clan?" Shin-chan yawned. "Did he bring snacks?"
"Can you care about the important matters first?"
"Snacks are important matters."
Expressionless, Uchiha Toru dragged Shin-chan into the tent.
A circle of people was already seated inside the tent.
"Since everyone is here, I'll state the conclusion directly." The Yamanaka clan ninja pushed a document to the center of the table. "We interrogated Mizunashi Nagi three times, and at the same time, we used the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques to search her memories."
"Kirigakure has already established contact with several local forces in the Land of Waves. According to their plan, once the sea routes are controlled by Kirigakure, these local forces will rise up across the Land of Waves at the same time and force the Daimyo of the Land of Waves to sign a trade agreement. Ultimately, the Land of Waves would become a vassal state of Kirigakure."
"But what Kirigakure did not expect was that we intervened ahead of time. If they continue investing forces into the Land of Waves, they may escalate a small-scale friction into a direct conflict with Konoha. And the current Kirigakure is clearly not prepared for an all-out war with Konoha."
One Konoha ninja expressed dissatisfaction.
"So they plan to use diplomatic means to demand the captives back, then pretend nothing ever happened?"
"However, this may not necessarily be a bad thing for us." The Yamanaka ninja smiled faintly. "That is why the village's intention is to use this opportunity to develop pro-Konoha forces in the Land of Waves."
"How specifically?"
"Do you still remember Kaiza?"
Shin-chan, who had been dozing off the whole time, suddenly raised his head when he heard the name. "Kaiza?"
"He personally witnessed Kirigakure's brutality and also received help from you." The Yamanaka ninja turned to Shin-chan. "Having him step forward and lead the villagers to resist those nobles and gangs colluding with Kirigakure is the most suitable choice."
Shin-chan frowned. "But he's not an adult yet, right?"
"That's right. So we still need to trouble you a little. The person Kaiza trusts most is you. If you go and talk to him, he'll be more likely to accept our proposal."
The Yamanaka ninja thought Shin-chan would immediately agree. After all, this was merely a small matter of pushing things along.
But unexpectedly, Shin-chan frowned and did not speak.
"What's wrong?" The Yamanaka ninja was somewhat puzzled.
"I can't make the decision for him." Shin-chan shook his head. "Kaiza has his own thoughts. I need to ask him first."
...
Kaiza was repairing a fishing net by the sea.
When he saw Shin-chan walking over, Kaiza immediately put down the fishing net in his hands.
"Lord Shinnosuke."
"Kaiza, there's something I need to tell you."
Kaiza's smile faded slightly. "What is it? Did something happen?"
Shin-chan told Kaiza everything he had heard in the tent just now, exactly as it was.
From Kirigakure's collusion with local wealthy merchants and nobles to how they oppressed the fishermen.
"Someone wants you to step forward and lead the villagers to resist those people colluding with Kirigakure." Shin-chan looked into Kaiza's eyes. "But I don't want to make the decision for you. If you don't want to, I'll refuse for you."
Kaiza did not hesitate.
"I agree."
"Aren't you afraid?"
"I am," Kaiza said without hesitation. "But someone has to stand up."
Over the next few days, every fishing village along the coast of the Land of Waves was spreading one thing:
Kirigakure could not be trusted.
They said that Kirigakure's ninja had stormed into their villages with blades, stealing their food and fishing boats, while Konoha's ninja had helped them drive away the bad people and even captured the jōnin sent by Kirigakure.
Kirigakure killed villagers who resisted.
But Konoha's ninja were willing to listen to them, willing to help them rebuild their homes.